The obvious: Floyd Mayweather is undefeated. He's entered the ring 42 times as a pro, and left with a reassured, signature smile on his face in all 42 bouts.

He's unapologetically cocky, because nobody has given him a reason not to be.

The much-maligned fighter is the poster-boy of HBO's critically-acclaimed 24/7 series. In each installment that he has partaken in, HBO provides two distinct angles that contrasts the boxers' characterizations as if night was fighting day.

The opponent is portrayed as relatively introverted with a docile, welcome-to-my-humble-abode-like personality.

Then, the rhythm of the background music jumps, sunlight consumes the background, a panoramic shot of the Las Vegas strip is broken by chrome rims spinning and a boisterous Floyd Mayweather forces viewers' brain activity to fluctuate.

If something's not broke, don't fix it—right?

To the casual fan, Mayweather/Cotto is the same story with a few subtle revisions. Mayweather embraces the camera and flaunts his lavish lifestyle in front of it. His words provide the fuel, critics retort with fiery rebuttals and ignite a media fire-storm that transforms into a cash cow.

And "Pretty Boy" milks it for all it's worth.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

But what if Mayweather drops to the canvas for the first time in his flawless career—does the sport of boxing fall with him?

Nobody will ever illustrate enough ring-savvy to outclass Floyd and defeat him on a scorecard. He's a technical surgeon that dissects his opponent's weaknesses, then exploits and showcases them on public display.

Standing directly in front of him throwing pot shots has the same success rate as trying to shoot a cheetah with a slingshot.

But, before the Ortiz head-butt and Mayweather's controversial left-right combination after the break, Victor had demonstrated his most effective flurry throughout the fight. He fearlessly stalked Floyd and trapped him against the ropes, unleashing a barrage of combinations with no regard for his opponent's well-documented counter-punching.

If Miguel mimics this game-plan, he could overcome the obstacles Mayweather presents.

Cotto isn't as lightning-quick as Mayweather, but he's arguably the quickest opponent that has stood in the opposing corner from Floyd since Zab Judah.

Miguel is an intelligent fighter with impeccable stamina, so endurance shouldn't factor into the equation (seeMayweather vs De La Hoya.)

Cotto's biggest advantage is his body punching. Mayweather's head is constantly on a swivel, moving in unison with his adversary's flailing combinations. Obviously, his body is an extensively wider target, and Cotto has repeatedly proven that his hands are like sledgehammers capable of stopping fights with one shot to the midsection.

These factors, combined with Mayweather stepping up to 154 lbs., could make Larry Merchant a very happy man.